(1) If the department or a county or district board of health finds that a licensee or other person operating a retail food establishment was provided with written notification of a violation of section 25-4-1610 (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), (1)(e), or (1)(f) and was given a reasonable time to comply but remained in noncompliance, such person shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than one thousand dollars, assessed by the department or a county or district board of health.

(2) (a) Upon a finding by the department or a county or district board of health that a retail food establishment is in violation of this part 16 or the rules promulgated pursuant to this part 16, and that the violation is sufficient to permit the department or a county or district board of health to establish a date and time for correction, the department or county or district board of health shall, in writing, advise the licensee or other person operating the establishment of the violation, provide the person with a reasonable time to comply, and conduct a follow-up inspection. If, at the time of the follow-up inspection, the establishment is found to be in violation of the same provisions, the department or a county or district board of health shall issue the person a written notification of noncompliance, provide the person with a reasonable time to comply, and conduct a second follow-up inspection.

(b)

(I) If, at a second follow-up inspection, a retail food establishment is found to be in compliance with the same provisions as were cited in the written notification issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the department or a county or district board of health shall advise the licensee or other person operating the establishment that noncompliance with such provisions at the next regular inspection shall result in the issuance of a second written notification of noncompliance.

(II) If, at a second follow-up inspection, a retail food establishment is found to be in violation of the same provisions as were cited in the written notification of noncompliance issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the department or a county or district board of health shall issue a second written notification of noncompliance, advising the licensee or other person operating the establishment of the violation and potential civil penalties that may be assessed if the noncompliance continues. The department or a county or district board of health shall conduct a third follow-up inspection.

(c)

(I) If, at a third follow-up inspection, a retail food establishment is found to be in compliance with the same provisions as were cited in the second written notification of noncompliance issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), the department or a county or district board of health may assess a civil penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and shall advise the person operating the establishment in writing that future noncompliance with the cited provisions in the second notification of noncompliance shall result in the issuance of a third written notification of noncompliance and subject the establishment to an additional civil penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.

(II) If, at a third follow-up inspection, a retail food establishment is found to be in violation of the same provisions as were cited in the second written notification of noncompliance issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), the department or a county or district board of health may assess a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. When compliance with the provisions cited in the second written notification of noncompliance is obtained, the department or a county or district board of health shall notify the licensee or other person operating the establishment in writing that noncompliance with the cited provisions in the second notification of noncompliance at the next regular inspection will result in the issuance of a third written notification of noncompliance and may result in an additional civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.

(3) A maximum of three civil penalties may be assessed against a licensee or other person operating a retail food establishment in any twelve-month period. Whenever a third civil penalty is assessed in a twelve-month period, the department or a county or district board of health may initiate proceedings to suspend or revoke the license of the licensee pursuant to section 25-4-1609.

(4) Neither the department nor a county or district board of health shall assess a civil penalty pursuant to this section if a disciplinary action is pending against the same licensee under section 25-4-1609.

(5) (a) All penalties collected by the department pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the food protection cash fund created in section 25-4-1608.

(b) Penalties collected by a county or district board of health shall be deposited in the appropriate county or district public health agency fund in accordance with section 25-4-1608, and shall be used to pay expenses related to the inspection of retail food establishments.

(6) To obtain compliance with this part 16, the department or a county or district board of health may allow the owner of a retail food establishment to use any assessed penalty fee to pay for employee training or the cost of needed improvements to the establishment.

(7) In addition to the remedies provided in this part 16 and other remedies provided by law, the department or a county or district board of health is authorized to apply to the county or district court of the county or district where a retail food establishment is located for a temporary or permanent injunction, and such court shall have jurisdiction to issue an injunction restraining any person from violating section 25-4-1610.